Soul Eater Not! Manga Volumes — Full 5-Volume Guide

Soul Eater Not! is a completed manga series with 5 volumes, all available in English. Whether you’re coming from the original Soul Eater, discovered the anime adaptation, or are just looking for a short finished series to collect, Soul Eater Not! manga volumes offer one of the quickest completed sets you can pick up. Every volume is in print, the story is fully wrapped up, and you can read the whole thing in a single weekend — most readers finish all five volumes in roughly three to four hours.

Let’s break down what you’re getting into.

Soul Eater Not! Manga Volumes at a Glance — How Many and Is It Finished?

Soul Eater Not! (ソウルイーターノット!) is a completed manga series by Atsushi Ohkubo, the same creator behind the original Soul Eater. It runs 5 volumes in both the Japanese and English editions, and the story is fully finished — the final Japanese volume came out in December 2014.

For anyone unfamiliar with the setup: Soul Eater Not! is a spin-off, meaning it’s a separate story set in the same fictional world as Soul Eater, with its own characters and plot — not a sequel or continuation. You don’t need to have read the original to follow it.

The series was originally published chapter-by-chapter (serialized) in Shonen Gangan, a manga magazine published by Square Enix in Japan. It is licensed in English by Yen Press, which released all five single volumes. The English edition carries an OT (Older Teen) age rating, which is a Yen Press content label indicating the material is best suited for readers roughly 16 and up.

Genre-wise, Soul Eater Not! falls under dark fantasy and school settings, though compared to the original series, this spin-off is significantly lighter in tone. The world of Soul Eater revolves around the Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA), a school where some students can magically transform their bodies into weapons, while others — called meisters — learn to wield those weapon-partners in battle. Instead of following the main cast on intense combat missions, Soul Eater Not! centers on students in the DWMA’s NOT class — the “Normally Overcome Target” students who are still learning to control their supernatural abilities rather than training for dangerous assignments. Think slice-of-life comedy — stories focused on everyday life and friendships rather than high-stakes action — with the occasional sprinkling of genuine danger, all set in the quirky world Ohkubo built.

It’s a short, sweet side story that gives you a completely different perspective on Death City and the DWMA.

What Happens in Each Volume

Here’s what to expect as you read through all five volumes — kept spoiler-light so you can enjoy the story fresh.

Volumes 1–2 — Life at the DWMA

The story opens with Tsugumi Harudori, an ordinary girl who discovers she has the ability to transform into a weapon — specifically, a halberd (a type of bladed pole weapon). She enrolls at the DWMA and quickly finds herself caught between two potential meister partners: the cheerful and easygoing Meme Tatane and the refined, somewhat prickly Anya Hepburn.

These first two volumes are firmly in slice-of-life territory. Tsugumi is adjusting to life in Death City, navigating friendships, exploring the town, and figuring out the basics of weapon-meister partnerships. There are brief appearances from familiar Soul Eater characters (Maka, Soul, and others pop in and out), but the spotlight stays on the NOT class trio and their growing bond.

The tone is warm and comedic. Ohkubo’s character designs are more rounded and cute here than in the main series, matching the gentler atmosphere. If you’re expecting nonstop action from page one, adjust your expectations — these volumes are about building the world from a ground-level perspective, and they do it well.

Volumes 3–4 — Rising Stakes

Things start to shift. While Tsugumi, Meme, and Anya continue their daily lives, outside threats begin creeping into Death City. The NOT class students — who are specifically not trained fighters — find themselves brushing up against dangers they’re not equipped to handle.

Connections to events happening in the original Soul Eater storyline start to surface more clearly. Without spoiling specifics, the comfortable school life that defined the early volumes gets increasingly disrupted, and the trio has to confront the reality that the DWMA exists for a reason.

These middle volumes are where the dark fantasy genre tag starts earning its keep. The tonal shift is gradual rather than jarring, and it gives the characters room to grow under pressure. The friendships built in the lighter early chapters take on real weight when the stakes climb.

Volume 5 — The Conclusion

The final volume brings the story to its climax and resolution. The threats that have been building reach a head, and Tsugumi must make decisive choices about her partnerships and her role at the DWMA.

The story reaches a complete, satisfying conclusion — no cliffhangers, no “read the main series to find out what happens” bait. Soul Eater Not! wraps up its own storyline on its own terms. If you’ve been following the NOT class trio’s journey, Volume 5 delivers a proper ending.

Should You Read Soul Eater First?

This is probably the most common question about Soul Eater Not!, and the answer is: it depends on what you want from the experience.

Reading Soul Eater first is the approach most fans recommend, and for good reason. Soul Eater Not! is packed with references, brief character appearances, and background events that tie directly into the original series. Characters from Soul Eater appear throughout, and certain plot developments in volumes 3–5 land with more impact when you understand the larger conflict at the DWMA. If you’ve already read or watched Soul Eater, these connections are a genuine treat — little “oh, so THAT’S what was happening on the other side” moments that reward your existing knowledge.

Starting with Soul Eater Not! also works, though. The spin-off tells its own self-contained story with its own protagonist, its own conflict, and its own resolution. You won’t be lost. You might miss some hidden references, but the emotional journey of Tsugumi, Meme, and Anya stands on its own.

Here are two natural reading paths:

• For maximum context: Read Soul Eater (25 volumes) → then Soul Eater Not! (5 volumes). You’ll catch every reference and appreciate the shared timeline — both stories take place in the same world during overlapping time periods.
• For a gentler entry point: Read Soul Eater Not! first as a low-commitment introduction to the DWMA setting. If you enjoy the world, the main series is waiting for you — and it’s a very different, much more intense ride.

At only five volumes, Soul Eater Not! is a quick read either way. There’s very little risk in picking it up regardless of where you are with the original series.

Manga vs. Anime — What Does the Adaptation Cover?

Soul Eater Not! received a TV anime adaptation that began airing in April 2014. If you’re wondering whether to read, watch, or both, here’s what to consider.

The anime covers the manga’s story, but as with many adaptations, the pacing and emphasis differ from the source material. The manga’s five-volume run is compact, and the anime expands on certain scenes and daily-life segments. Some viewers feel the anime leans even harder into the slice-of-life comedy angle, while the manga balances its tonal shift more gradually.

The manga also benefits from Ohkubo’s art, which has a playful energy on the page that’s distinct from the animated version. His character expressions and the way he arranges drawings within each page carry a lot of personality that doesn’t always translate one-to-one into animation.

If you’re choosing one or the other, the manga gives you the complete story as the creator intended it, in a format you can read at your own pace. If you enjoy the manga, the anime is a fun companion piece — familiar characters brought to life with voice acting and music. Both are worth experiencing if you have the time, but the manga is the primary version of this story.

Which Edition Should You Buy?

For English-speaking readers, the choice is straightforward — but there are a few editions floating around that are worth understanding.

English Edition — Yen Press (5 Volumes)

The Yen Press release is the only English-language edition of Soul Eater Not!. It collects the series across 5 single volumes, matching the original Japanese release structure. All five volumes are available, so you can collect the complete series without worrying about out-of-print gaps or missing volumes.

This is the edition to buy if you read in English. Simple as that.

Japanese Original — Gangan Comics (5 Volumes)

The original Japanese edition was published under the Gangan Comics label (a publishing brand under Square Enix), also in 5 volumes. Unless you read Japanese, this one is mainly relevant to collectors or language learners.

Japanese Kanzenban — Complete Edition (3 Volumes)

There’s also a Japanese kanzenban — a “complete edition” that collects the series into 3 larger volumes. This reformatted edition contains the same story in bigger pages with different packaging. It is not interchangeable with the 5-volume set. If you’re browsing Japanese import listings, don’t accidentally mix complete-edition volumes with regular volumes thinking they’ll line up chapter-by-chapter. They won’t.

This complete edition is Japanese-only and appeals mainly to collectors who want a premium, larger-format presentation. For most readers, especially English readers, the Yen Press 5-volume set is the way to go.

Buying Tips

• The full series is only five volumes, making it one of the most affordable completed manga sets you can collect.
• Since all volumes have been out for years, availability is generally good through major retailers.
• There is no English box set — you’ll be picking up individual volumes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes is Soul Eater Not!?

Five volumes in both the Japanese and English editions. The Yen Press English release matches the original volume count exactly.

Is Soul Eater Not! finished?

Yes. The series is fully completed. The final Japanese volume was released in December 2014, and all five English volumes are available.

Who is the author?

Atsushi Ohkubo, who also created the original Soul Eater. Soul Eater Not! is his spin-off of his own work, so the world-building and character connections feel organic rather than tacked on.

What is the difference between Soul Eater and Soul Eater Not!?

Soul Eater is the original series — 25 volumes of intense action, following EAT class students (short for “Especially Advantaged Talent” — the advanced meisters and weapons who train for real combat missions). Soul Eater Not! is a spin-off that follows NOT class students in a lighter, more everyday-life setting. Same world, same school, very different tone and scale.

Is Soul Eater Not! available in English?

Yes. All five volumes are published by Yen Press and rated OT (Older Teen).

Do I need to read Soul Eater to understand Soul Eater Not!?

Not strictly. Soul Eater Not! tells a self-contained story with its own characters and conclusion. Reading Soul Eater first enriches the experience with character appearances and timeline connections, but the spin-off is perfectly readable on its own.

Is there an anime?

Yes, a TV anime adaptation aired starting in April 2014. It covers the manga’s story, though the pacing and emphasis differ in places. The manga is the original and more compact version of the story.